Endomyocardial fibrosis: a rare case of restrictive cardiomyopathy in a Caucasian female
Cuisset, T.; Nait Saidi, L.; Mouret, J.P.; Barbou, F.; Quilici, J.; Fourcade, L.; Lambert, M.; Ghez, O.; Metras, D.; Bonnet, J.L.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 99(1): 73-76
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 16479894 Document Number: 604507
The authors report the case of endomyocardial fibrosis diagnosed in a young Caucasian female presenting with progressive congestive cardiac failure. The diagnosis was suspected on the echocardiographic, magnetic resonance imaging and cardiac catheterisation findings in association with the clinical presentation. After a short course of symptomatic medical therapy, the patient underwent the only curative treatment of this pathology, surgical endocardectomy and combined valvular surgery. The confirmation of the diagnosis was obtained a posteriori by histopathological examination of the operative findings which showed appearances of endomyocardial fibrosis similar to those observed in tropical regions. The patient was discharged on the eighth postoperative day, much improved clinically, and follow-up at one year was very satisfactory.